Bowling ball jig



Oct. 8,1963 J. R. DENlsco BOWLING BALL JIG Filed Dec. 28. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Oct. 8, 1963 J. R. DENlsco 3,105,111 BOWLING BALL JIG 2 Sheets-SheeI 2 Filed D90. 28, 1961 Z8 INVENTOR.

c/oH/v /QE/v/sco United States Patent Oiiee attain Patented Get. 8, 1963 3,106,111 BOWLING BALL HG John R. Denisco, 327 Salem St., West Pittston, Pa. Filed Dec. 2S, 1951, Ser. No. 162,737 9 Claims. (Cl. '77-63) This invention relates to a jig for adjustably positioning a bowling ball under a stationary drill and in particular to a jig of improved construction which permits the drilling of a Wide variety of nger and thumb holes Without removing the ball from the jig.

Jigs for the general purpose of adjustably positioning a bowling ball under a drill are known. Conventionaily known jigs provide for the clamping of the ball and for rotational movement of the same within the jig in order that the thumb and finger holes may be drilled at desired distances from each other and at desired angles with respect to a radius `of the ball drawn through the hole at the surface of the ball. Ihe former dimension is generally called the span of the holes and the latter is generally called the pitch.

These known jigs Suder from the disadvantage that the means for clamping the ball in the jig often is of such size and shape as to hinder the operation in making further adjustments and in lowering Athe drill to form the holes. Specifically conventional jigs generally clamp the ball by means of a ring of smaller diameter than the ball which rests on top of the ball and which is secured by means of various screw-type latches. The ring, or other ballengaging structure, and the necessary latches often extend upwardly and outwardly to such an extent as to interfere with the operatorsmovements. In some cases the diameter of the ring may be so small that holes having a large span therebetween cannot be drilled without unclamping the ball and rotating it within the jig. In addition the ring and screw-.type latches are bulky and require considerable time for their operation.

Another disadvantage of conventional jigs lies in their inability to permit the pitch of the holes to be adjusted in a fore and aft direction and in a side to side direction without repositioning the ball within the clamping means.

The jig of the present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a jig with a ball-holding device which clamps the ball only along a narrow circumferential portion thereof and by providing a jig which permits the ball to be rotated about three different axes and moved laterally whereby holes of fore and aft `and side to lside pitch can be drilled without changing the position of the ball in the clamping means.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a bowling ball jig which permits the position of the ball to be rapidly and easily adjusted for the drilling of holes having preselected span, fore and aft pitch and side to side pitch without unelarnping the ball from the jig.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a jig for a bowling ball having a ball-holding means which exposes a maximum working surface of the ball.

The invention will be more fully understood from a reading o-f the following description of a preferred embodiment of a bowling ball jig when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a front elevational view of la bowling ball jig embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the bowling ball jig of FIGURE 1 with the ball-holding means in a different position;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the jig of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the left side of the jig of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to FIGURE 1 a bowling ball jig 10 embodying the principles of the present invention is shown as including, as its major component, a frame 12, a ball retainer 14 for holding a bowling ball l5, a tilt yoke 16 on which the trame 12 is mounted, and a horizontal support 18 on which the tilt yoke i6 is` mounted for lateral sliding movement.

The frame includes a horizontal base plate 2% and a pair of spaced vertical brackets Z2 secured thereto in any suitable manner as by welding or bolting. Conveniently, the brackets may be somewhat trapezoidal in shape as seen in FIGURE 4 and are rigidly constructed of metal. Conveniently, both the upright portions and the horizontal top and bottom portions may be lengths of an-gle iron suitably joined as by welding. Depending from the lower surface of the plate 20 are .two spaced rectangular mounting brackets 2d having opposing arcuate slots 25 cut therein. As seen in FIGURE 4, slots ZS are concave downwardly and are formed with a radius of curvature equal to the radius of the ball l5.

The frame is supported on a pair of bolts 26 which pass through the slots 25 and through a pair of spaced tilt yoke brackets 28. As seen in FIGURES 1 and 4 the heads 3d of the bolts engage the outer surface of the left tilt yoke bracket and the threaded ends pass through the right tilt yoke bracket. The threaded end of one bolt is provided with a conventional nut 32 and the end of the other bolt is provided with an interiorly threaded tightening handle 34. The bolt having the handle 34 is also provide with a nut 36 engaging the inner surface of mounting bracket 24 whereby rotation of the handle clamps or unclarnps the mounting bracket 24 between the nut 36 and tilt yoke 28.

ylhe lower edge of each tilt yoke bracket 28 is provided with a transverse ange 38 which is slidably retained in a track 40 which extends parallel with the tilt yoke bracket. The tracks 40 lare rigidly connected to each other by any suitable means such as pieces 42. To the right of the tilt yoke brackets and secured to one of the pieces 42, as by welding, is a vertical bracket 44 through which a horizontal, threaded rod 46 passes. The bracket 44 is provided with a threaded insert 48 engaging the rod 46 whereby rotation of the rod, as by means of a handle Si? at its outer end, causes the rod to translate with respect to the bracket 44. The inner end of the rod 46 is journaled in -a vertical plate 52 which extends between and is secured to the tilt yoke brackets 28y whereby the tilt yoke 16, the `frame and the cradle 14 translate the rod `46. The rod may be connected to the plate 52 in any suitable manner as by means of a washer 51 and a cotter pin 53.

rlhe front tilt yoke bracket 28 is provided with an upper vertical pointer S4 secured to the upper front surface thereof for indicating the amount of tilt on a scale 56 secured to the upper surface of the base 2%. A lower vertical pointer 55 is similarly fixed to the lower front surface for indicating the extent of lateral movement of the tilt yoke i6 and associated elements on a scale 5'7 secured to the top of the front track 40.

The ball retainer 14, as shown, includes three arcuate metal strips and a horizontal split ring 58 secured together, as by welding, to form a basket-like structure. A single substantially hemispherical strip 6l) is secured at its ends to the lower edge of the split ring, and two shorter arcuate strips 62 are secured transversely to the strip 6) and to the lower edge of the split ring 58 so as to form a continuous ball-engaging inner surface. The split ring 58 is releasably engageable with the circumference of the ball 62 by means of a latch 64 which in the closed position (FIGURES l and 2) pulls the ends of the split ring together. In the open position (FIGURE 3), the latch permits the ring to expand slightly. As shown, the latch is of the quick release type which includes a handle 66 pivoted at one end to the split ring near one of the ends of the ring, as by means of a bracket 63, for movement in the plane of the ring. A link 7d is pivoted to the opposite end of the ring as by means of a bracket 72 and to the shank of the handle intermediate the ends thereof.

The ball retainer is mounted for rotation in a vertical plane about an axis through the center of the ball l by means of a pair of trunnions 7d secured to the exterior of the ring 5? at opposite locations and extending laterally thereof. Conveniently, a boss 76 may be first secured to the ring on opposite sides and the trunnions 74 then secured to the bosses. Each trunnion is rotatably supported by and passes through the lower end of a vertical radius link '7S and then passes through the adjacent bracket 22 to terminate in a threaded portion Sil. As seen in FIGURE 4, each bracket 22 is provided with a vertical plate d2 secured thereto and having an upwardly concave, arcuate slot 8d therein which has a radius of curvature equal to the radius of the ball l5. As seen in FIGURE 3, the trunnions 74 pass through and are slidable forwardly and rearwardly in the slots Sd.

The threaded portion bil of the left trunnion 7d is provided at its extremity with an interiorly threaded lock arm 86 and with a collar 8S between the lock arm and the plate S2 whereby tightening the lock arm clamps the trunnion against rotational or sliding movement. The extremity of the right trunnion is provided with a suitable handle @il for manually rotating the ball retainer ld. Between the handle 9d and the plate S2 are a lock arm 92 and a loosely iitting collar 94 for clamping the trunnion in the same manner as arm 86 and sleeve S3.

As seen in FIGURE 3 means are provided for adjustably sliding the trunnions l in slots 84. As shown, a horizontal threaded rod 96 is threaded through a bracket 9S which is secured to the side of the right bracket 22. The forward end of the rod 96 has a handle lll@ thereon for manually rotating the same, and the rear end of the rod has a small ball M2 thereon which is retained loosely in a socket title in the periphery of collar 94.

The radius links 73 are pivoted for rotation fore and aft about an axis flush with the top of the ball l5. As seen in FIGURES l and 4 plates 106 are secured to the upper portion of the upright brackets 22 and are provided with apertures having a common axis which touches the top of the ball l5. Trunnions 108 secured to the radius links pass through the apertures and are rotatably retained therein as by nuts lill and washers (not shown).

A strengthening ring 1.31.2 of substantially hemispherical shape may be secured at its ends to the lower portion of the radius links 7 8, as seen in FIGURE 3, to lend added rigidity to these elements. As seen in FIGURE 5 the upper end of the left link 7% terminates in a depending pointer 114 which registers the span distance on a scale llo secured to and rotatable with the ball retainer 14. As shown, the scale lilo is a thin arcuate strip having graduations llllS in the inner vertical surface thereof and is secured to boss 74 by means of a rigid arm Ztl. A scale i122 having graduations 124i for indicating pitch in a fore and aft direction is secured to the outer vertical surface of plate d2. An indicator mark 126 on the outer surface of the left radius link 73 registers with the scale 122.

in order to use the jig for drilling thumb and linger holes in a bowling ball, each of the pointers 54, 55, Zilli and lZ is adjusted to the center graduation of its scale (which for convenience may be labeled O) and the jig is then fixed in place below a vertical drill lZisuch that the axis of the drill passes through the center of the ball l5 which has been clamped in the ball retainer i4 by means of latch 6d.

in order to drill a hole having a pitch in a fore or aft direction, handle itl@ is rotated so as to slide trunnions 74 in slots Se whereby the ball l5 is rotated fore or aft about an axis along the top of the ball. The direction and extent of pitch will be indicated on scale M2 by pointer E26. When the pointer 126 indicates 0, the

fore or ait pitch will be zero and thus a hole formed by the drill Z will have an axis through the center of the ball l5. The direction and extent of the pitch of the hole to be drilled will be indicated by the direction and magnitude of the movement of pointer 12,6 from 0 on scale .3.22.

To drill a hole having a pitch in a lateral direction, lhandle 34 is loosened, the frame l2 and ball retainer 14 are manually tilted laterally in the desired direction and extent indicated `by pointer S4 on scale 5d, and handle 34 is tightened. Handle Sil is then rotated to move the tilt yoke le, ball retainer 14 and frame l2 laterally so as to return the ball l5 to a position at which the drill 128 will enter the surface of the ball at the preselected location. When the pointer 5d indicates "0 on scale 56, t-he drill will form a lhole which has no lateral pitch and which has an axis through the center of lthe ball provided that the pointer 55 indicates "(l on scale 57. The direction and extent 'of the lateral pitch olf :the hole will be indicated by the direction and magnitude of the movement of pointer 54's? away from O ion scale FiGURE 2 illustrates the position of the frame i2 and tilt yoke i6 for drilling a hole having a lateiial pitch.

To drill two holes having a preselected span between them, handles 36 and 92 are loosened, the ball-retainer 14 is rotated, a preselected ex ent by means of handle 9) and handles Se and 92 are tightened. Conveniently the preselected span distance is divided by two and each .half span is measured in opposite directions from zero on scale lid by pointer iid. When one hole is drilled at each of the two indicated half spans, the two holes will have the correct span between them.

Thus, it is apparent that the `apparatus of the present invention permits thumb and linger holes of any span, fore and aft pitch and lateral pitch to be drilled in a bowling ball without changing the position of the ball in its retainer le. Further, the apparatus is readily adjusted with a minimum of manual movements `and exposes a maximum of working ball surface. While a specific embodiment 0f the jig has been described, it is apparent that modiiioations may be made therein, and the details thereorf are not intended to be limiting except as they appear in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Apparatus for adjustably positioning a spherical 1object comprising: a frame; means within said `frame for sup-portino a spherical object; means mounting said supporting means within said frame for rotation about a first axis coinciding with a horizontal ldiameter 'olf the object; means mounting said supporting means within said frame for rotation about a second axis parallel to and positioned above said first axis; means mounting said frame for rotation about a third `anis transverse to said tirst and second |axes and positioned below said first axis; `and means for moving said frame linearly in a direction transverse to said third axis.

2. Apparatus as in claim l wherein said means vfor supporting the 'object includes: a single narrow split ring having la diameter substantially that of the object, la latch for drawing together the ends of said split ring and thereby engaging the object around its largest circumference, and means iixed with respect to said ring for supporting the 'object from below and for positioning the same with respect to said ring.

3. Apparatus las in claim 2 wherein said latch includes a rst member pivoted near yo-ne end to ione end olf said split ring and a second member pivoted at `one end to said lirst member intermediate lche ends thereof and engageable at its other end with the other end of said split ring.

4. Apparatus for adjustably positioning a spherical lobject which comprises: iirst and second horizontally spaced frame members; a link depending from each of said rst and second frame members; clamping means for releasably engaging the spherical object around a narrow continuous horizontal portion thereof thereby leaving a substantial portion Iof the object exposed, said clamping means being positioned between said links; a shaft extending from each of two di-ametrically opposite points on said clamping means and extending along a first axis which passes through the center of an object in said clampingA means, said shafts being rotatably supported by said links; said links being rotatably supported above said shafts by said members for rotation about a second axis which is parallel t-o said inst axis and spaced above said rst axis a distance equal to `a radius of the object; support means below said clamping means for said frame members; means mounting said |frame members for rotation about a third axis which is transverse to said first `and second axes and which is positioned below said tir-st axis; and means mounting Isaid suppont means for linear movement in a direction parallel to said rst axis.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising means for adjustably rotating said links about said second axis.

6. Apparatus as in claim l4 wherein said means for mounting said Iframe for rotation about a third axis includes means having a downwardly concave slot therein land means xed with respect to said frame and slidable in said slfot.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the radius of curvature of the downwardly concave slot is equal to la radius of the object.

8. Apparatus ias in claim 4 further comprising means for releasably clamping one of said shafts to one ot' said frame members whereby rotation of said Kobject clamping means about said first axis yandl said second axis is prevented simultaneously.

9. Apparatus for adjustably positioning a spherical object which comprises: first and second horizontally spaced frame members; object-retaining means for engaging the object only anound its largest circumference and below its largest circumference thereby exposing substantialiy the entire upper half of .the object; a shaft extending from each of two diametnically opposite points on said clamping means and extending along a first axis which passes through the center yof an object in said retaining means, each of said shafts being mounted yfor rotation in the lower end of 'a link and passing through an aperture in one of said frame members; means pivoting the upper ends of said links to said lframe members :for rotation about a second axis parallel to said first axis; means tlireadedly engaging the iend of one of said shafts for locking said one shaft to Ione ofthe frame members; an upstanding bracket lying in a plane parallel to `said first axis and having a downwardly concave slot therein; a pair of spaced e1e ments slidable in said slot l,and fixed with respect to said frame members below said retaining means; means vfor releasably clamping said elem-ents to said bracket; track means parallel to said bracket and sliidably retaining said bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,269,946 Lange Ian. 13, 1942 2,490,120 Ellison et al Dec. 6, 1949 2,643,557 Grove June 30, 1953 2,879,679 Nei Mar. 31, 1959 

1. APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTABLY POSITIONING A SHPERICAL OBJECT COMPRISING: A FRAME; MEANS WITHIN SAID FRAME FOR SUPPORTING A SPHERICAL OBJECT; MEANS MOUNTING SAID SUPPORTING MEANS WITHIN SAID FRAME FOR ROTATION ABOUT A FIRST AXIS COINCIDING WITH A HORIZONTAL DIAMETER OF THE OBJECT; MEANS MOUNTING SAID SUPPORTING MEANS WITHIN SAID FRAME FOR ROTATION ABOUT A SECOND AXIS PARALLEL TO AND POSITIONED ABOVE SAID FIRST AXIS; MEANS MOUNTING FRAME FOR ROTATION ABOUT A THIRD AXIS TRANSVERSE TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND AXES AND POSITIONED BELOW SAID AXIS; AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FRAME LINEARLY IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO SAID THIRD AXIS. 